Dear Pioneer Woman

I’m no life expert. Not by a long shot. I don’t have all the answers. Sometimes I don’t have any answers. Sometimes I have some answers. Sometimes I have what I think is an answer but it turns out not to be an answer. Sometimes I dance around the house wearing overalls and stilettos. But every once in awhile, perhaps because I’m an older sister, perhaps because I’ve lived 43 years, perhaps because I’m constantly seeking answers myself, I’m able to give an answer that works for someone.

So if you’re Flummonxed in Fresno, Desperate in Denver, Confused in Cleveland, Stumped in Saratoga, or otherwise need advice or perspective on love, life, what to wear, what to eat, what to cook, how to use your treadmill as a clothes hanger, or any other issue you’ve had on your mind, feel free to email [email protected] I’ll randomly select questions and answer them in occasional posts. My advice will be fun and lighthearted…and I will not be as bossy with you as I am with my little sister.

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Marlboro Man and I went on a hike up the mountain when we were in Vail last week. I took this same hike last summer, only it was with my sister-in-law Missy and our kids. You can read about it here. I pretty much thought I would die on the mountain. Hiking up the mountain with Marlboro Man [...] Keep Reading

1. I made 48 of these suckers last night at 10:30. Marlboro Man, the kids, and the cowboys had to go work cattle in Kansas this morning, and I wanted to send them with a portable breakfast treat. My cuticles were nice and moisturized this morning after being submerged in melted butter for [...] Keep Reading

My husband dug me a trench the other day. I love it when my husband digs trenches. I know it doesn’t look it, but this is hard dang work. Our soil is quite clayey and the morning he whipped this out was extremely hot and humid. [...] Keep Reading

I had a very fast, very nice time in New York City and now I’m on a plane heading home! Took a long walk Tuesday evening… Saw a pug Wednesday night… Found a neat deli… Couldn’t decide what to get… Got one [...] Keep Reading

I had to look through my Instagram photos over the past year because I was in search of a few specific ones…but I got sidetracked and started reminiscing. Here are some highlights. Ahhh, my sunflower garden from last year. I’m not sure if this is going to be a reality [...] Keep Reading

(Note: In honor of Memorial Day, I wanted to repost this from one year ago. The photos help remind us all to stop and reflect today.) Many of you may remember that a few years ago, I held a photo “Coming Home” contest on Pioneer Woman Photography and received a huge amount of [...] Keep Reading

Good morning, friends! I’m so excited to show you the cover of my new cookbook (coming out this fall), which is part of the reason I’ve been so busy ’round these parts lately. I’ve just about got the cookbook all wrapped up, and I’m really excited about this [...] Keep Reading

I’m sorry to do this to you on a Monday, but this is the most recent photo on my iPhone and the most appropriate photo for me to use to update you on what’s happening around here these days: Charlie on the sofa in the mud room. Charlie on the sofa in the living room. Charlie on [...] Keep Reading

First of all, I can’t handle John Burroughs: “I am in love with this world. I have nestled lovingly in it. I have climbed its mountains, roamed its forests, sailed its waters, crossed its deserts, felt the sting of its frosts, the oppression of its heats, the drench of its [...] Keep Reading

1. As I pointed out on Instagram yesterday, it is permissible for a mother of two teenage daughters and two preteen boys to post a selfie as long as only half of her head is showing and there is livestock in the background. You follow that rule too, right? 5. I started [...] Keep Reading

Marlboro Man, our boy Todd, and I are back from Chicago and we had a wonderful time. I was there to show my upcoming product line and Marlboro Man and Todd alternated hanging with me at the show, being cute and exploring Chicago. Emphasis on being cute. Those two boys kill me. [...] Keep Reading

I’m writing this while on a plane with Marlboro Man. He, Todd and I are heading to Chicago for the weekend. Since he is my captive, I decided to interrogate him and post his answers here. I love it when he can’t escape me. Move a little closer, please. (Moves a little [...] Keep Reading

I just wanted to post this photo of me and my equine redheaded partner in crime friend companion buddy. That was a really long way of saying “horse.” Anyway, Marlboro Man and I drove out to check on some cattle Friday evening after some winter weather moved in, and when we [...] Keep Reading

It’s dark and dreary and snowy and cold on the ranch this morning…but you won’t catch me complaining. Unlike our friends and fellow Americans in the Northeast, we have had a pretty mild winter here in Oklahoma so far. And now that I’ve said that, we’ll [...] Keep Reading

I am in Colorado right now with my two middle children and their two good friends. Marlboro Man stayed home to tend to the ranch with our oldest child, who has soccer responsibilities, and our youngest child, who has basketball responsibilities and who also wanted to avoid the ten-hour car [...] Keep Reading

I love reviewing my Instagram photos from time to time and posting them here. It’s a nice way to sum up a week, month, or several-month period at a time. Plus, it’s a great way to avoid doing the dishes. Here’s my month of January! (Give or take a day or two.) Alex [...] Keep Reading

I found this in my bag of russets yesterday evening. I scrubbed and chopped up most of the other potatoes in the bag and stuck them in the oven to roast them for dinner, but I couldn’t bring myself to roast this love tater. I decided that finding it was a sign. Now, just what exactly [...] Keep Reading

I was looking through my iPhone for an old photo related to our building project from last spring, and I found the following two photos, snapped by Paige when we were at Sky Zone (the new huge trampoline parks that are sweeping the nation) celebrating a birthday. That was a really, really, [...] Keep Reading

Good morning, I mean good afternoon, I mean…good evening! What time is it? What day is it? Oh, well. Either way, I have a list. 1. We had a lovely Thanksgiving. What about you? My favorite dish was every dish and my favorite pie was every pie. 2. My voice is [...] Keep Reading